Il 23 Aug 1997, David Giles (1:163/333) ha scritto a Gino Lucrezi:
 DG> Tell me about Scouting in Italia.
First of all, we have two scout associations in Italy.
The oldest one is CNGEI (Corpo Nazionale Giovani Esploratori Italiani), and 
is pluri-confessional. The other one (my one) is AGESCI (Associazione Guide E 
Scout Cattolici Italiani), and it is a Catholic association.
The two associations form a federation which belongs to both WOSM and WAGGGS.
AGESCI was born in 1974 from the merger of a Scout association and a Guide 
association.
In Agesci we have three sections, called "Wolf Cubs" (age 8-11), "Scouts" 
(12-15) and "Rovers" (16-21). All sections are fully co-ed.
We accept youth regardless of religion, even though of course our program has 
a strong catholic character.
Wolf Cubs are still much similar to what BP described in "The Wolf Cub's 
Handbook", except that we no longer have 1st star and 2nd star, but instead 
we have the "Wolf of the Law", "Wolf of the Council Rock" and "Senior Wolf" 
awards. The Jungle Book is the leading theme of all activities.
Some units use a different 'fantastic environment' than the Jungle Book; it 
is the one which was used in the guide association before the merger. 
The Scout section is much centered around the Patrol and the Troop. It is 
infrequent to have summer camp together with other troops.
The progression is centered around four "steps": Discovery, Responsibility, 
Authonomy&Competence, Animation.
At each step, the boys and girls will agree with the Troop Leader on some 
aims they have to reach. At completion of these aims, the full Troop holds a 
Council and decides on awarding the step.
The Rover section is centered around Route, Community and Service. Route is 
the french word for "road", and we use it both to denote the main outdoors 
activity (backpacking) and the spiritual experience associated with it.
Rovers will spend some of their time experiencing service to others. This 
includes both service in Agesci, as helpers in the Scout or Cub sections, and 
service outside the association, often with elderly or handicapped people, 
but always with a social relevance.
At around 21 years, Rovers will ask for their "Leaving". They will leave 
their Rover Crew, and they will be 'paddling their canoe' on their own.
Some of them will choose to stay in AGESCI, as Leaders; others will find some 
other kind of service to their country... but all of them will pledge to do 
their best to be of service..
The "Leaving" is the most important ceremony in Scouting, for us. Since the 
aim of Scouting is to form good Men and Women, what we are concerned with is 
not only what they do as Cubs, Scouts or Rovers, but what they will do during 
all of their life.
 
Yours in Scouting
Gino Lucrezi
Assistant Scout Master
"Mafeking" Troop
L'Aquila 3
AGESCI (Associazione Guide E Scouts Cattolici Italiani)
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